Sycamore couple wins national farming award ... and a new truck

COLUMBUS – At a meeting in Nashville, a young Crawford County couple learned they are considered one of the most compelling duos in the agriculture world.

Greg and Rose Hartschuh, of Sycamore, won the 2018 American Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Agriculture competition, announced during the AFBF annual meeting. The Crawford County couple competed with young farmers and ranchers from around the country for the award.

"It was a really good experience to represent Ohio at that level," Rose said. "We met a lot of great young farmers across the country who are doing a lot of great things in their community."

As a prize, the Hartschuhs were given a new Ford truck, courtesy of Country Financial, and paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Reno, Nevada, in February.

"It’s a process where we’ll work with a local dealer to cash in that prize," Rose said. "We’re hoping that in the next couple months, we’ll have that sitting in our driveway."

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Rose is a seed adviser, contributes to the family farm and manages their additional family businesses. Greg is employed full-time on his family’s farm, raising corn and soybeans and operating a dairy.

The Hartschuhs partnered with two other farm families to revitalize a neglected farm property in Bucyrus, which now offers a farm market in one barn and an event venue in another. In 2017, they launched Acres of Adventure, a nonprofit organization designed to connect consumers with opportunities to experience modern agriculture.

"We’ve been Farm Bureau members, even when were kids," Rose said.

To earn the award, Rose and Greg filled out a 10-page application, then prepared a 25-minute presentation on what they felt were the three greatest issues facing the farming community today.

"The biggest issue we identified was empowering younger leaders in agriculture," Rose said. "Also transitioning assets from the older generation to the younger generation."

They also addressed healthcare in rural areas, as well as education for farmers in an ever-changing agriculture economy.

The Hartschuhs served on the Ohio Young Ag Professionals state committee, served as delegates to the state annual meeting, participated in AFBF’s Young Farmers and Ranchers conference and have been engaged with their county and the state Farm Bureau. Other interests include 4-H, the county fair, the Soil and Water Conservation District, Ohio Holstein Association and Crossroads Community Church. They are the parents of two young children.

In 2017 the Hartschuhs organized a caravan of aid for farmers and ranchers devastated by the wildfires in Kansas. They traveled with other Ohio farmers to help those in need and stayed in Kansas for several days.

The Hartschuhs were honored in October as Ohio’s Excellence in Agriculture winners which qualified them for the national contest. At that time they won a John Deere Gator courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America and a $1,000 cash prize sponsored by Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau and the expense-¯paid trip to the AFBF convention.